The White House and Congress are moving closer to a constitutional confrontation. What’s the evidence of political interference in the Justice Department? Is the issue likely to end up in court? On Reporter's Notebook, Al Gore challenges Congress to act on global warming.

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The White House and Congress are moving closer to a constitutional confrontation. What’s the evidence of political interference in the Justice Department? Is the issue likely to end up in court? On Reporter's Notebook, Al Gore challenges Congress to act on global warming.

Early this week, 3000 pages of internal Justice Department e-mails and other documents were turned over to Congress in the matter of the firing of eight US Attorneys. Three of the President Bush's closest advisors are deeply involved: Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, former White House Counsel Harriet Miers and political advisor Karl Rove. Today, a House subcommittee took the first step toward subpoenas for Rove and other top White House aides. The President says they can testify privately without any transcript being made, but Congress wants sworn public testimony--on the record. Insisting that there was no wrong-doing, Bush emphasized that he'd go to court to prevent his aides from testifying under oath. Whether or not the issue ends up in court, it will be judged in the court of public opinion. Has the Department of Justice lived up to its name or become a political arm of the White House? We update today’s action with journalists and legal experts.

On a voice vote, a House Judiciary subcommittee has authorized subpoenas of top White House aides on the firing of eight US Attorneys. Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) rejected White House Counsel Fred Fielding's offer that Karl Rove and Harriet Miers testify behind closed doors, without being sworn and without any transcript of their testimony. Conyers will decide if the subpoenas actually will be issued. Republicans called the authorization "premature" and President Bush said he'll go to court to prevent a "public spectacle." Keith Perrine is legal affairs reporter for Congressional Quarterly.

Former Vice President Al Gore is back on Capitol Hill today for the first time since he certified his own defeat in the presidential election of 2002. As a Tennessee Senator and Vice President he had trouble getting a hearing on global warming. Today, testifying before a House committee, he spoke of the growing demand for action on climate change by politicians across the board as well as religious leaders and industry. Tom Schaller is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Maryland.

Guests:Tom Schaller, Professor of Political Science, University of Maryland